Permutation lock



Aug. 4, 1925. l 1,548,311

lc. D. HAZEN PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Aug, 24, 1923 Patented Aug. 4, 1925.

UNITED STATES CHARLES D. HAZEN, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

Application filed August 24, 1923.

To @ZZ whom t ma@ concern:

Be itr known that LCI-munies D. l-AZEN, aycitizen ot the United States, residing` at Painesville, in the county of Lake and State ot' Ohio, have invented a certain new and usetul vimprovement in Permutation Locks, ot which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a permutation lock capable ot various uses, but herein shown applied to the steering post of an automobile. andalso to the transmission controlling lever ot an automobile.

lt is the object or' the invention to provide a permutation lock which is simple in construction, economical to manu'facture,` and easy to assemble, and which can bev conveniently operated by one knowing the combination, and which is safe against tampering or unlocking by unauthorized persons.

A further object is to provide a. lock in which it is impossible to obtain access to the interior of the casing when the locking elcinents are in locking position. i further object is to provide a lock which can be readily adjusted for any desired combination.

A further object is to provide a lock which may be locked by any one of many different settings ot the lock actuating men'ibers, and unlocked, by restoring the particular' nicmbers moved, to their original positions, so that the combination cannot be obtained bj; watching the unlocking operation. ii. lfur ther object is to provide a permutation lock Vwhich can be locked in various ways, and

which can be readily unlocked by a person having knowledge ot the basic combination regardless oiI the manner in which it has been locked.

The abov'e and other objects ot the invention are accomplished by the means shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification, and speciliczfilly deiined in the claims and the invention may be said to comprise the riechafv nism herein shown, described and claimed7 together with such modifications `thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification, in which F ig. l is a fragmentary, sectional view showing the improved lock applied to the steering post of an automobile; Fig. 2 is a view of the lock shown in Fifi'. l, partly in horizontalsection and Serial' No. 659,094.

partly in elevation; Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the interior locking mechanism in elevation; Fig. 4l is a` View showing the lock bolt in side elevation; Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing the improved locking mechanism applied to the transmission control ling lever of an automobile: Fig. 6 is aplan View of a modiiied form of lock, partially broken away to show one of the locking elements in section.

Referring to Figs. l to 4 of the drawing, in which the lock is shown applied to the steering post ot an automobile, the steering post l, is mounted within the usual fixed steering column 2, and has rigidly clamped thereto a. locking collar 3, which co-operates with the locking mechanism in securing the steering post l to the lined column 2. T he locking mechanism is mounted within a cylindrical casing d, which is formed integral with a section 5 ot the steering column. rlhe outer end of the cylindrical casing 4 is closed by means of a cover plate 6, and centrally ot the casing-there is mounted a sliding lock bolt 7 which has an inner enlarged end 8 which projects through, and has a sliding tit in an opening in the bottom of the casing 4, and is adapted to be engaged in a suitable recess 9 'formed in the locking collar 3.

f At the outer end of the enlarged portion 8 the lock bolt is provided with a circumferential 'flange l0, and outside the iiange l() the bolt is provided with additional circumferentially spaced langes 1l and 12.

Outside the inner enlarged portion 3, the body portion 13 ot the lock bolt is of reduced diameter, and the outer end ot the portion 13 has a sliding lit in a central opening of the cover 6. The flanges 10, 11 and 12 of the lock bolt are located within the casing 4,A and between the innermost iiange and the bottom of the casing there is interposed a compression coil spring let which serves normally to hold the locking bolt in retracted position clear of the locking collar 3. When the locking bolt is so retracted, the steering post l is free to turn. lNhen, however, the locking bolt is held in its inmost position with the end thereof in the recess 9 of the collar 3, the steering post l is locked against rotative movement.

rlhe present invention resides in the means employed tor retaining the locking bolt 7 in locking position.

The locking' elements 15 'which serve to FII (ci 'Al hold theA locking bolt in locking position are mounted within the casing '4, and each locking element 15 is adapted to be moved to engage with the outenface of one of the flanges 10, 11 or 12. The locking eleinents 15 are arranged in a plurality of sets which are spaced circumferentially around the central locking bolt 7 within the casing 4f..

The locking elements 15 of each set are superposed and rotatable about a vcommon axis, one of the locking elements of each set being engageable with one of the flanges of the locking bolt. Each of the locking elements 15 has a projecting locking portion f 16, which in one position of the locking element engages with a flange of thelocking bolt. The projecting portion 16 is also engageable with the cylindrical wall of the casing 1 to limit the movement of the locking element in one direction.' Each locking element 15 is also provided with a project# ing pin 17 which is engageable with the cylindrical wall of the casing to limit the movement of the locking element in the opposite direction. When the locking element has been rotated to a position in which the projecting portion 16 engages the cylin` drical wall, the locking element is disen gaged from the flange of the locking bolt. When the locking element has been rotated to bringrthe pin 17 into engagement with the cylindrical wall, the projecting portion 16 will be in locking position.

Each of the locking elements 15 has two circumferentially spaced recesses 18, in either of which the pin 17 may be placed. lVhen the pin 17 is placed in one of the recesses 18, the locking element may be moved to locking position by turning to the right, and when the pin 17 is placed in the other recess 18, the locking elementY is moved to locking position by turning to the left.

Each of the innermost of the locking elements 15 of each set is fixed to a stem or shaft 19, the inner end of which is j ournaled in a recess formed in a plate 2O which fits against the bottom of the casing, and the outer end of which extends through the cover plate 6, the outer end of the stem 19 being provided with an enlargement or knob 21 to facilitate the manual operation thereof.

The next outer locking element 15 of each set is fixed to the Vinner endof a sleeve 22 which is rotatably7 mounted upon the stem 19, projects through the cover 6, and is provided with a suitableenlargement or knob 23 at its outer end. The outermost locking element 15 of each set is fixed to the innerV end of a sleevel 24 which is rotatably mounted upon the sleeve v22, projects through Ithe cover plate 6, and is provided with an enlargement orknob 25 at its outer end.

By means of the three superposed knobs 19, 23 and 25 of each set, any or all of the locking elements Ymay be turned rto locking position. ner locking elements are fixed partitions 26 and 27 which serve toretain the locking'elements in proper position and to hold the locking elements against outward movement while engaged with the locking bolt.

The lockingl elements are preferably yieldingly mounted to facilitate their engagement with the flanges of the locking bolt, springs 28 being interposed between the partition 26 and the innermost locking elements l5, and springs 29 being interposedbetween the partition 26 and the next outer locking elements 15, and springs 3() and 31 being interposed between the outermost locking elements` and the partition 27 and between the outermost locking elements and the cover plate 6.

All of the locking elements 15, together wih the inner plate20 and partition mem` bers 26 and 27 are carried by the cover plate 6, andare remoif'able from the casing bodily` therewith. The cover plate 6 is secured in place on the casing 4 by means of short screws 32 extending through the outer edge portion of the cylindrical wall into the edge of the cover plate, and the lock mechanism is secured to the cover by means of long screws 33 whichextend through the cover plate 6, partition members `2.6 and 27,` and are .screwed into the detachable bottom plate 2O which rests upon thebottoin of the casing, the partition plates 26 and 27 being held in position by means ol' sleeves 35 mounted upon the screws 33.

In order to prevent the removal of the locking mechanism when the steering post is locked, a stud 36 projects into the interior of the casing adjacent each of the locking elements 15. The partition members are provided with suitable notches to permit the passage thereof past the stud 36, and the locking elements 15 are provided with notches 37 which register with the studs 36 only7 when the locking elements are in unlocking position. 4

ln order to permit the removal of the locking mechanism from the casing, it is therefore necessary that the locking ele ments be in unlocking position.

The locking elements 15 will preferably have their stop pins 17 so adjusted that some of them will be moved to locking position 'b v turning in one direction, and others by turning in the opposite direction. To lock the steering post, the steering Wheel will be turned to position the recess 9 in thecollar 3 in alignment with the enlarged end 8 of the locking bolt, and the locking bolt will be entered into the recess 9 by pushing it inwardly against the action of the spring 14. The locking bolt may be then locked in its locking position by turning any one` of the locking elements l5 into engagement` with one of the flanges of the locking bolt.

Immediately outside the two in* After turning the first locking element into engagement, one or more of the other locking elements will preferably be turned` to locking position. By remembering which of the knobs he has turned, the driver may unlock the steering post by turning to reverse position the knobs which he actuated in locking. Should the driver forget which knobs he has actuated, he can readily unlock the steering post if he knows the combination.

To unlock the device under these conditions, he will simply turn to the left each of the knobs set for unlocking, by turning to the left, and turning to the right all of the other knobs. f

By reason of the fact that the drivel' will ordinarily iny unlocking, operate only the knobs which he has turned in locking, which may be any combination, it is impossible for any one to learn the combination by watching the unlocking operation.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, a locking mechanism the same as that above described, is shown applied, to the gear shift lever 38 of an automobile. The gear shift lever 38 extends through the casing 89 which is secured to the member in which the lever is mounted and also serves as a housing for the locking mechanism, the lever 38 being provided with circumferential flanges 10a, 11a, within the casing, and the upper end of the casing being closed by means of a detachable cover plate 6a, similar to the cover 6 in the modification first described.

The lever 38 is locked against movement by means of any one of a series of locking elements 15a corresponding exactly to the locking elements 15 above described, which are mounted to move into and out of engagement with the flanges 10a, 11a, of the lever 38.

The elements 15a are arranged in sets upon opposite sides of the lever 38,' and are fixed to rotatable stems 19"1 and 22, corresponding to the stems 19 and 22 in the modification first described, the inner and outer locking elements being held in proper position within the frame by means of partition members 26a and 27a. When any one of the locking elements 15a is in locking position engaging a flange of the lever 88, the lever is locked against movement, the operation of the locking elements 15 being exactly as described above in connection with the steering post lock.

Referring to `Fig. 6 of the drawing, the easing 4a which is polygonal in shape, corresponds to the casing 4 in Fig. 1 and may be formed as a part of the steering column of an automobile. A flanged lock bolt 13a correspondingr exactly to the lock bolt 13 in Fig. l is mounted centrally of the casing 4a and the flanges thereof, the outer flange 12a, only, being shown, are engaged'by locking bolts 40 which extend laterally into the casing, a lock bolt for each flange being provided through alternate faces of the polygonal casing. Each of the lock bolts 40 is provided with a coarse threaded portion 41 which engages internal threads in a bushing 42 screwed into a tapped opening in the casing wall. The bolt 40 has an outer squared reduced end portion 43 which fits slidably in a square socket in a stem 4lwhich projects outside the casing. The stem 44 has a flange 45 at its inner end which is loosely clamped against the outer end of the bushing 42 by means of a gland nut 43 whose outer face is substantially flush with the outer surface of the casing.

Attached to the outer end of thc stem 44 is a knob 47, the inner end of which covers the nut 46 and prevents access thereto.

vWhen one of the stems 44 is rotated by turning its knob 47 the bolt 40 will be moved inwardly into locking engagement with a flange of the lock bolt 13a or outwardly to a position clear of the flange, depending on the direction of rotation, the movement inwardly being limited by engagement of the shoulder at the inner end of the threaded portion 41 with a flange of the lock bolt and the movement outwardly being limited by engagement of the shoulder at the outer end of the threaded portion 41 with the inner end of the stem 44. In each of these locks certain of the bolts 40 will be provided with left hand threads and the others with right hand threads. described the device may be locked by turning any knob or by turning a number of selected knobs and may be unlocked by turning these knobs in a reverse direction, and the device may be unlocked by any person knowing the combination by turning each knob to the limit of its movement in the unlocking direction. lVhenever it is desired to change the combination the right and left locking bolts may be interchanged in any desired manner or any of the locking bolts may be replaced by a reversely threaded bolt.

Having described my invention, l claim:

1. A permutation lock comprising a ing, a shiftable member extending through the casing, a plurality of locking elements within the casing and movable into and out of engaging position with respect to the shiftable member, a stop device associated with each locking element, each stop device being adjustable for changing the direction of movement of its locking element to engaging position, and actuating means for said locking elements.

2. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a shiftable member having a shouldered portion within the casing, plurality of locking elements rotatably mounted alongside the shouldered portion of the shiftable member, each of said locking elements hav- As in the modifications above llO ing a projecting portion and being movable through a partial revolution to bring said projecting portion into and ont of engagement with the shouldered portion of the shiftable member, said projecting port-ions` being engageable With the using to limit the turning movement thereof in one direction, and a second projection carried by each locking element to limit its movement in theopposite direction. n Y

3. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a shiftable member entending into the casing, a plurality of locltiiig elements rotatably mounted Within the casing, means for limiting the movements of said elements whereby each is movable through a partial revolution and from a position clear of the shiftable member to a position in engagement therewith, certain oil said locking elementslbeing movable to engaging position by a rotative movement in one direction and other of said locking elements being movable to engaging position by a rotative move` ment in the opposite direction, and separa-te means for actuating each of said locking elements. j

4. A permutation lock comprising a`casing, a shiftable member extending into the casing, a plurality 'of locking elements ro` tatably mounted Within the casing', each ot said locking elements having a projection adapted Vto be moved into locking position with respect to the shiftable member and to engage a portion of the casing on either side of the shiftable member, a stop carried by each locking element and engageable with the casing When the projection is in locking position, said stop being adjustable to per mit the projection to be positioned on either side of the shiftable member, and separate means for actuating each of the locking elements. I f a 5. In a permutation lock, a casing, a cover for the casing, means for detachably securing the cover to the casing, a shiftable member, a plurality of locking elements Within the casing and carried by th'e'cover, said locking elements being movable into and out of engagement with said shiftable member, separate means upon the outside of the cover for actuating each of the locking elements, and means carriedY by the casing and engageable With certain of said locking elements to prevent removal of the cover except when said elements arein unlocking posiv tion.

6. In a permutation lock, a casing, acover forthe casing, means for detachably secur` ing the cover to the casing, .a plurality of rotatably mounted locking elements Within the casing carried by the cover, stems fixedk to the locking elements and projecting through the cover, and a projection carried by the casing engageable with certain of said locking elements to prevent removal Vof the cover and locking elements from the casing, said last mentioned locking elements having notches which are aligned with said projection When the locking elements are in unlocking position.

7. A permutation lock comprising arcasing, a shiftable member having shouldered portions Within the casing, and a plurality of superposed rotatably mounted locking elements Within the casing movable into and out of engagement with the shouldered portions of the shiftable member, the innermost of said locking elements havinga stem pro jecting through a wall of' the casing, and an outer of the locking elements having a stem in the form of a sleeve` surrounding said lirst mentioned stem,

S. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a shiftable member having shouldered portions Within the casing, and a plurality of superposed locking elements mounted for rotation about a common axis into and out of engagement with the shouldered portions oi" the shiftable member, the innermost of said locking elements having a cylindrical stem projecting through a Wall of the casing, and an outer of the locking elements having a stem in the form of a sleevesur# rounding said firstv mentioned stem, said stems having enlarged portions upon the outside of the casing to facilitate manual actuation of' the locking elements.

9. A permutation lock comprising a cas ing, a shittable member having il plurality of annular flanges Within the casing, anda plurality of sets of locking elements engageable with' said flanges, each set comprising a plurality of superposed locking elements mounted for rotation about a common axis into and outof engaging positionwith respect to said flanges, the innermost locking elements of each set having a cylindrical stem extending through a Wall of the casing, the outer locking elements of the sets `having stems in the form of sleeves surrounding the first mentioned stems, said stems having enlargements at their outer ends outside the casing.

10. A permutation lock comprising acasing, a shiftable member `mounted centrally of the casing and having a plurality of circumferential flanges Within the casinrr, and a plurality of locking elements Within the casing spaced about the periphery of the flanges, each locking element being adapted to be turned into and out of locking engagement with one of the flanges, each of said locking elements having astem projecting through a Wall of the casing.

11. A permutation lock comprising mounted centrally of the casing and having a plurality of circumferential flanges within the casing, and a plurality. of locking elea cas` ing having a cover, a shiftable member` periphery of the flanges, the locking elements being rotatable about parallel axes and each having a projection adapted to overlie a portion ol? one of the danges of the shit'table member, each locking element having a stem projecting through the cover.

12. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a shitable member mounted centrally of the casing and having a circumferential flange Within the casing, and a plurality of locking elements Within the casing and spaced about the periphery of the flange, said locking elements being` rotatably mounted and each having a projection adapted to engage the flange and a stem projecting through a Wall ot the casing, and means for limiting the turningmovements of each of the locking elements in both directions, said locking elements at one limit of their move- 'ment engaging said flange and at the other limit of their movement lying clear of said flange.

13. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a shizttable member mounted centrally of the casing, a plurality ot locking elements adapted to be individually moved into locking engagement With the shittable member at different points along the length thereof, other locking elements adapted to engage the shittable member at points spaced circumferentially with respect to the points ot engagement oit the first mentioned elements, and separate means for actuating each of said locking elements.

14. A permutation lock comprising a cas ing, a shiftable member mounted centrally of the casing, a series of locking elements adapted to be individually moved into locling engagement with the shiftable member at dilerent points along the length and cir cumferentially of said shittable member, separate means for actuating each of the locking elements, and means associated with each of said looking elements for reversing the direction in which the actuating means is moved to shift the locking element to engaging position.

15. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a shittable member mounted centrally ot the casing, a series ot' locking element-s adapted to be individually moved into locking engagement with said shittable member, and a plurality of sets of concentrically arranged rotatably mounted actua-ting members .tor said locking elements, each of said actuating members being adapted to shift a looking element into and out of locking engagement with the shilftable member, certain of said actuating members moving the locking element associated therewith to unlockin g position by turning in one direction, and other ot said actuating members moving their locking elements to unlocking position by turning in the opposite direction.

16. A permutation lock comprising a casing, a locking bolt mounted in the casing, a plurality ot locking elements Within the casing, each movable to engaging and disenging positions with respect to the locking .olt, an adjustable stop member associated with each locking element, and separate means extending through a Wall of the casing for actuating each locking element.

17. A permutation lock comprising a control lever, having laterally extending projections thereon, a casing surrounding the lever and enclosing the projections, a series ot' separate rotatably mounted locking elements Within the casing, each adapted -to engage a projection on the lever to lock the same, and separate actuating means for each oit said locking elements.

18. In a permutation lock, a casing, a locking bol-t slidably mounted in a Wall of the casing, said bolt being rotatably mounted and having a threaded engagement With a part fixed to the casing, and a stem rotatably mounted in the casing and extending outside the same, said stem being slidably but nonrotatably connected to the bolt.

ln testimony whereof, l hereunto ax my signature.

cuantas n. Hazan. 

